August 6, 2006
Levis, Canada, August 7, 2006 - Since the launching of the Handyscan 3D in July 2005, Creaform has been selling and marketing its laser scanner or camera through its own distribution network, establishing a new standard in the 3D scanning industry. The scanner has been on the market since its introduction last fall and it is currently used in all industry fields, ranging from manufacturing to the medical industry, including automotive, aerospace, multimedia, culture, transportation and all tier suppliers to these industries. The Handyscan 3D is currently used in reverse engineering, design, inspection, measurement, digital mock-up (rapid prototyping) and simulations.
To increase the accessibility and availability of this very innovative and successful technology, Creaform and Z Corporation have signed an OEM agreement of partnership. Z Corp., which now commercializes the Handyscan 3D under its own new brand, the ZScanner™ 700 will make use of its already well-established international distribution channel.
As the first self-positioning, truly handheld 3D laser digitizer or scanner in the global market, technicians and engineers now using the Handyscan 3D or ZScanner 700 can scan their objects without any external constraints or limitations. The scanner creates a STL file in real time allowing users to create, manipulate and modify a 3D model in any CAD application.
"This agreement with Z Corp. is aligned with Creaform’s efforts and strategy to give the international community of users easy and wide access to scanning technologies for reverse engineering and inspection," said Charles Mony, the president of Creaform. Handyscan 3D and the ZScanner 700 are providing users with unique functionalities, ease of use, speed, versatility and accuracy to enter in the 3D digital world.
The partnership between Creaform and Z Corp. will be beneficial to the market in general as both the Handyscan 3D and the ZScanner 700 will be available through different distribution channels. Both scanners use and share the same technology developed and manufactured by Creaform.
"Z Corp. is very pleased to be collaborating with Creaform in marketing a truly innovative technology that satisfies the business needs of many of our current and prospective customers," said John Kawola, Z Corp.’s executive vice president of sales, marketing and business development. "We were looking for a strong product that would complement our 3D printing business and would measure up to our demanding speed, value and ease-of-use standards. We have found our solution with the Creaform technology, and our customers will be pleased."
About Creaform
Creaform inc. is a high technology company in the optics and 3D digital market, dedicated to the development, integration and services in 3D technologies associated with laser scanning. They develop and manufacture the "Handyscan 3D" as well as other OEM products. Creaform is active in different markets ranging from manufacturing to medical industry, including automotive, aerospace, multimedia, culture and transport. For more information about the Handyscan 3D, visit the website at www.handyscan3d.com.
About Z Corporation
Z Corporation makes products that enable users to capture, edit, and print 3D data with unprecedented speed, ease, versatility and affordability. These products include the world’s fastest high-definition 3D printers - machines that produce physical 3D models from digital data in full color - and uniquely portable 3D scanners - handheld machines that digitize 3D surfaces in real time. Z Corp. technology is enabling a wide range of applications in manufacturing, architecture, civil engineering, reverse engineering, geographic information systems (GIS), medicine and entertainment. For the latest news and information from Z Corp., visit the company’s Web site at www.3dsystems.com.